Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 34, Number 6, 1 June 2017 — A PLACE OF HOPE [ARTICLE]

A PLACE OF HOPE

By Dave Dondoneau The fight against cancer is never ending and for those diagnosed, and their family and friends in support, the fight is both a physically and emotionally draining experience that ean sap spirits as well as bank accounts.

But there is always Hope. And help. Since welcoming its first neighbor island guest on Nov. 28, 2016, the Clarence T.C. Ching Hope Lodge has hosted more than 300 guests traveling to O'ahu for cancer treatment and given them and a caretaker a plaee to stay for free. But ask anyone associated with the $15 million American Cancer Society home about what makes it a special experience and hnaneial savings is barely mentioned, if at all. Kalani Aiwohi, a father of three who grew up on O'ahu and now lives on Hawai'i Island, has stayed at the Hope Lodge twice for extended periods since being diagnosed with Stage 3 melanoma last year. "I ean only speak from the heart about this plaee and the people," Aiwohi said. "It doesn't matter if you have Native Hawaiian blood or just born here or just moved here. When you go through those doors we're all family. It's beyond what I

expected. I look up and see the plaques with the names of all the donors who made this possible

for me and I don't even know them but I am grateful for their help." Aiwohi was skeptical when his doctor first told him about Hope Lodge. "I pictured an old building behind

Queen's with four gray walls and a room with a bed where I would be alone and depressed. I pictured people here all with their heads down doing their own thing. I thought I'd be alone to die," he said. But Hope Lodge turned out to be a blessing, bright and full of life, starting with the welcoming staff who make guests feel like family. "You know how we are in Hawai'i, we all bond over food," Aiwohi said. "So, you have aunties and volunteers always cooking big meals for everyone and caretakers and guests share experiences on what's worked for them and what hasn't. We're all going through the same thing and there is this connection. You can't get it anywhere else. I'm so grateful to be here and so thankful they persuaded me to eome see it." Aiwohi said he hasn't thought mueh about the hnaneial savings the Lodge has saved his family but knows it's a lot. According to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority's March figures, an average

hotel rate on O'ahu was $223.66, not including taxes, resort fees or parking. Hope Lodge director Rob Anderson said some guests stay between 6 and 1 1 days, while others stay three to four months.

"It ean add up," Anderson said. "You ean do the math if we fill 20 beds 365 days a year. We don't think about that because the most impactful part is not the roof we provide, it's the eommunity. It consists of other guests battling cancer. That is a very inclusive, warm inviting plaee for people to eome and talk with other guests if they want to. They are the greatest source of information for effects of things, share eaeh other's pains." The lodge has 20

guest rooms, eaeh with two twin beds (so eaeh guest ean bring a caretaker), a private bathroom and television. It also has residential kitchens, laundry facilities, a resource library, a garden and community living and dining room spaces. For more information about donating, volunteering or staying, ask your doctor or eall the American Cancer Society at 808-566-8430. You ean also go online at hopelodgehawaii.org. ■

PŪNAĪE, VOLUNTEER CathyAlsup, MajorGifts Directorfor the Hope Lodge, said the cancer facility operates on a $500,000 annual budget and relies on donations to keep stays free for guests and caretakers. To donate or to join the Hope Lodge as a volunteer go to hopelodgehawaii.org.

Nearly 1,000 NATIVE HAWAIIANS are diagnosed with invasive cancereach year. That's approximately 15 PERCENT 0F ALL CANCER CASES in the State. Hawaiians represent 21 percent of the State population. 0f the five most populous ethnic groups, Hawaiians have the highest rates for at least nine majorcancers.

HEALĪH I